Biography
Originating in Bordeaux amid southwestern France, the octet les Hurlements d'Léo—whose moniker reportedly nods to a VRP song title—channels an electrified strain of acoustic java punk rock shaped by the 1980s surge of French alternative acts. Echoes of les Garçons Bouchers’ alternative rock, Mano Solo’s French chanson, and the multicultural currents of les Négresses Vertes alongside la Mano Negra course through their music. Following several underground years, the eight-piece ensemble drew nationwide and overseas notice via its second album, La Belle Affaire, issued in 2001.
Four initial musicians began gigging as les Hurlements d'Léo inside Bordeaux bars toward the close of 1995. Those early performances favored raw punk energy and conventional rock gear. By January 1998 the lineup had expanded to eight players and pivoted toward acoustic instrumentation. Only guitarists and vocalists Laurent (aka Lolo—the members employ solely first names or nicknames) and Erwan (aka R1) carried over from the starting quartet; they were soon joined by saxophonist Benoît (aka Ziz or Benziz), bassist David (aka Daoued or Dawed), accordionist Jojo, trumpeter Pepito, violinist Zébulon, and drummer Remingo. An opening slot for Pigalle—the project of former les Garçons Bouchers members—in January 1998, followed by a Marne music festival appearance two months afterward, earned glowing notices and secured management.
Thereafter the group adopted nonstop touring as its Gypsy-oriented lifestyle, pausing solely to cut studio recordings. Its debut, self-produced effort, Le Café des Jours Heureux, surfaced in early 1999; Pias licensed it for distribution, moving 25,000 copies largely through word-of-mouth. Appearances multiplied across France and Francophone Europe. Larger production resources supported La Belle Affaire, tracked during summer 2000 and released in early 2001. A Quebec trek preceded Un Air Deux Familles, an album conceived, executed, and captured with Ogres de Barback, which arrived in December of that year.
Four initial musicians began gigging as les Hurlements d'Léo inside Bordeaux bars toward the close of 1995. Those early performances favored raw punk energy and conventional rock gear. By January 1998 the lineup had expanded to eight players and pivoted toward acoustic instrumentation. Only guitarists and vocalists Laurent (aka Lolo—the members employ solely first names or nicknames) and Erwan (aka R1) carried over from the starting quartet; they were soon joined by saxophonist Benoît (aka Ziz or Benziz), bassist David (aka Daoued or Dawed), accordionist Jojo, trumpeter Pepito, violinist Zébulon, and drummer Remingo. An opening slot for Pigalle—the project of former les Garçons Bouchers members—in January 1998, followed by a Marne music festival appearance two months afterward, earned glowing notices and secured management.
Thereafter the group adopted nonstop touring as its Gypsy-oriented lifestyle, pausing solely to cut studio recordings. Its debut, self-produced effort, Le Café des Jours Heureux, surfaced in early 1999; Pias licensed it for distribution, moving 25,000 copies largely through word-of-mouth. Appearances multiplied across France and Francophone Europe. Larger production resources supported La Belle Affaire, tracked during summer 2000 and released in early 2001. A Quebec trek preceded Un Air Deux Familles, an album conceived, executed, and captured with Ogres de Barback, which arrived in December of that year.
Albums
